Octopus Energy - Smart Meter Install wait times?

Screwdriva

Greetings! 

I called to switch over to Octopus Energy's variable tariff today to try to take advantage of their outgoing Agile variable solar tariff. I was told that they will not be able to offer this tariff to me without a SMETS-2 meter (I have an older SMETS-1) and that they had a "long" waiting list. During the conversation, it was clear they were attempting to dissuade me from switching (likely due to wholesale energy prices).

Does anyone know how long it took for Octopus (no any other provider) to switch over your SMART meter? I'm based in Zone 2 London.

Cheers! 

Petriix

Octopus are quoting over 6 months and I've heard reports of people waiting longer than that. They (helpfully) advised me to get my current supplier to fit one before switching. British Gas fitted one within 3 weeks of taking over my supply. Less than 3 weeks later I was on Octopus Go. 

Spies

When I switched to Octopus I didn't have a smart meter, I had a SMETS2 fitted within a week of joining, this was in November. 

Exiled_Tyke

This time last year I did the same as Petriix.  Got the smart meter from the supplier I had then and then moved to Octopus.  

Screwdriva

I'm with Bulb which are not doing upgrades for SMETS1 meters, so I'll have to switch twice to get the smart meter

JKenH

Exiled_Tyke said:

This time last year I did the same as Petriix.  Got the smart meter from the supplier I had then and then moved to Octopus.  

Ditto, Octopus suggested I ask my supplier at the time, Bulb, and they fitted one within about 3 weeks. I waited 6 weeks, out of courtesy before switching to Octopus. Once with them I was on Go within 5days (it might even have been 4).

Solarchaser

I waited over 6 months but that was from March last year, so lockdown 1

Hungerdunger

We switched from Ecotricity to Octopus on 30th December, and are due to have our smart meter installed tomorrow.

I have to say that after trying to get one installed by Ecotricity for over nine months, I have been very impressed so far by Octopus, especially the quality of their communications.

Screwdriva

Happy to share that I am now exporting via Outgoing Agile despite having a SMETS-1 Smart Meter. Apparently, Octopus can now connect some to SMETS-1 units including our Aclara.

Finally going to get paid 2.5X for all the exported energy (vs. Bulb's fixed rate tariff) 

Alnat1

Glad you got it sorted Screwdriva. I find the Outgoing Agile tariff adds a bit of fun and even helps me decided what/how  to cook for dinner. If it's a 40p-ish evening peak I'm cooking on gas (hob over oven) or the slow cooker will have been on earlier lol

I moved to Octopus in March, already had SMETS2 meters that were fitted Dec 20 by SP. Octopus had problems connecting with the gas meter but the electric was fine for both import and export. For some reason they decided to replace both meters with new ones on 8th June. Now fine for gas and electricity supply (Tracker V3) but I can't see stats yet on my Outgoing Agile. Have chased them up, hoping it's sorted soon.

thevilla

https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/our-smart-network/current-programmes/smets1-enrolment-and-adoption/

There is still a plan to upgrade SMETS1 meters to SMETS2 by the end of this year via an over the air software upgrade.... unless covid has knocked that back.  This article is helpfully not dated 🙄